For the first time, the Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO) is taking part in The International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM). The 18th edition of the event, held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, will take place in Meknès from Monday, April 20 to Tuesday, April 28, 2026, under the theme: “Sustainability of Animal Production and Food Sovereignty.”

This inaugural participation reflects the Office’s commitment to highlighting the strategic role of cooperatives in the development of Morocco’s agricultural sector. It is particularly significant in light of this year’s theme, as ODCO reaffirms its belief that the cooperative model is a key driver in strengthening local production, structuring agricultural value chains, and enhancing national food sovereignty.

This presence also marks a new phase in the institution’s action. “ODCO is now expanding its approach beyond supporting the creation of cooperatives to further strengthening their consolidation, structuring, and professionalization, with the aim of enhancing their sustainability, performance, and economic and social impact,” stated Ms. Aicha Errifaai, Director General of ODCO.

In a context shaped by the need for resilient agricultural systems, the promotion of national production, and stronger territorial anchoring of value chains, the cooperative model continues to prove its relevance. It serves as an effective mechanism for organization, resource pooling, and economic inclusion in rural areas. As such, cooperatives play a decisive role in implementing national strategies such as the Green Morocco Plan and the Generation Green strategy, by organizing producers, improving value creation conditions, fostering collective entrepreneurship, and facilitating better integration of small-scale producers into the country’s economic fabric.

The figures reflect the strength of this dynamic: as of the end of 2025, Morocco’s cooperative sector included 65,315 cooperatives, of which 40,833 were agricultural cooperatives—representing 61.5% of the national cooperative network—and bringing together a total of 541,463 members.